Holding device



W PETTY HOLDING DEVICE I Fe b. 8, 1949.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 19, 1945 V IN VEN TOR. leg

Feb. 3, 1949.

2 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed Jul 19, 1945 Patented Feb. 8, 1949 UNHTED STATES PATENT QFFICE 2,461,440- HOIZD'I'NG Device Wesley Petty, Efiingham, 111. Application July 19, 1945,,Serial No. 605,889

The present invention relates to an improved mechanism for maintaining one of two relatively movable members in a set position relative" to the other, and more particularly to an improved device for releasably holding one of two hinged members in a raised position relative to the other against gravity pull. 7 y I 7 Holding devices of the character referred to are useful in many applications, particularly in releasably holding lids, covers, printing frames and the like in elevated positions relative'to supporting bases. Comparatively recently there have been developed for this purpose various types of holding devices which operate'upon the self releasing principle, i. e., as the movable member is raised from the elevated position in which it is'held by the holding device, the hold.- ing element of the device is actuated [to-permit full closing movement of the member. Usually such devices are designed for a particular application, are relatively complicated and hence expensive, and lack the ruggedness required .in certain applications.

13 Claims. (Cl. 248195) It isan object of thepresent invention, therefore, to provide a holding device of the-character described which is oi simple, economical and ruggedconstruction, may be easily and quickly installed in any of a variety of applications, and is wholly reliable in operation.

It is another object of the invention'to provide a mechanism of the character described which is so arranged that a solid and powerful holding bridge is established betweenthe raised member and its supporting structure each time the mechanism is actuatedto hold the member in its raised position. a

According to still another object of the invention, unnecessary complication of. the mechanism is obviated by so arranging the relatively movable parts thereof that a singlespring is utilized to move the holding element toward each of its holding and non-holding positions.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with'further objects and advantages thereof, will best be uhderstood by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: v

Fig. 1' is a perspective View illustrating: the

present improved holding device'in-its' embodiment inprinting apparatus'of. the stencil type;

Fig. 2 'is aside view illustrating the positions occupied by the parts of' thedevice' whnthe printing frame is elevated;

Fig; 3- is a sidevieW- illustrating the*posltions 2 occupied by the parts of the device whenthe printing" frame is closed; I

Fig". 4 is'airagment'ary topplan view of the device; Figs; 5 m 6' are additional side views illuszratihg the parts of the-device in-changed posi ions;

Fig, 7 is a fragmentary sectional viewtaken ailong'the lines irl Fig'. 5; and I Fig; 8 isa fragmentary sectional viewtaken alongtheliness d in Fig. 5.

g Referringnow -to" --the-drawings andm'ore'p'articula'rly to Fig." ltheroi thepresent" improved holding mechanism or device-is there illustrated inits use releasablyto hold a printing frame E0 in an elevated-position relativeto fa printing basell to which thefra'me' lflishinged along one side by means ofl'a hinge l2. This name carries a screen lilb; formed of silk or the like, which is stretohedbetwen the four sides of the frame andisj used in an entirely conventional mariner in the application of fink to patterned surfaces of worksupported" upon. the base I I.

In brief,' the" holding" device comprises. an "elongatedni'etal support" [4' fixedly attached to de memberillldof 'jthe fraine, m, a f

.ci'byineainsof'screw 'I' anda ingbelement the form of a straig which is supportedifdr'pivotal andnans atoji-y movement relativefltothe support 14'. More spe; cificjall'y', the holding element [his slidably supported "uponan arm l6 which is. pivotally m'ounted upon'the support M'by means of a pivot pin IT. 'A spacing sleeve not embracing the pivot pin me the manner shown Fig. 7 of the draw ing's, is utilized .tocprovide the required lateral clearance betweenthe support 14 and the movableparts o'f the mechanism. A flanged slide part] [B riveted, to the holding element l3 3 by meansf oflrivets I9 and. having a flange l8a overlying the edge of the arm i6, is usedin conjunctionwithfa cooperating slide part ill to provide..the desired sliding. support for the holding element along;thefarm-wi'fiy Theslide part -21! ismountedupon theholding element l3 by means oifa threaded stud?! extending through the parts 18 and I3; and in cooperation witha wing nut '22 .threadable along the stud zhacts as adjustable friction means for preventing free sliding movement of the holdingcelemen-t relative toth'e'aarmifil A stop pin 21' mounted :upon the arm: Hi and adapted for" engagement b'y "the upper edge of the slide -part l e is 'utilized to arrest' relativ sliding-*moverrfent b'etwe'en the 3 arm I6 and the holding element l3 in one direction.

With the described arrangement, the holding element I3 may be pivoted with the arm IS between the non-holding position illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings and the holding position illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings, the latter position being defined by a stop pin 28 mounted upon the support I4 and projecting outwardly therefrom into the path of movement of the holding element. At its' swing end, the holding element I3 is provided with a rounded camming surface I 3b which terminates in a relatively sharp point I3c adapted for engagement with the base II to thus hold the frame I6 in its raised position when the holding element occupies its holding position.

For the purpose of alternately pivoting the holdin element I3 toward its holding and nonholding positions in response to alternate movements of the frame Iii away from the base I I, a helical spring 23 is provided. This spring is connected at one end to the pivoted end I3a of the holding element and at its opposite end to a stud 24. mounted upon the support I4. As pointed out below, tensioning of this spring to effect pivotal movement of the holding element I3 towards its non-holding position is produced by moving the frame I0 toward the base II after the frame has been raised and the holding element has pivoted to its holding position. For the purpose of tensioning the spring 23 to effect pivotal movement of the holding element I3 away from its holding position toward its nonholding position, means comprising a second arm 25 pivotally supported by a pivot pin 26 upon the support It are provided. This arm is provided at its swing end with a laterally extending finger 25a. having a lower edge 25b adapted to ride down an inclined edge portion Bit of the holding element to bring the finger 25a into engagement with an inwardly directed shoulder I3e formed at the swing end of the holding element I3. A stop pin 26a. projecting outwardly from the support I4 acts to limit downward movement of the arm 25 when the frame I!) is raised, thereby to position the finger 25a for engagement with the inclined edge surface [301 of the holdingelement during retraction of this element to its non-holding position.

In considering the operation of the above described mechanism, it may first be pointed out pivotal movement occurs under the joint infiuence of gravity pull and the spring 23 when the frame I0 is raised or pivoted away from the printing base I I about the pivot axis of the hinge I2. As the holding element I3 is thus rotated in a clockwise direction, its lower rounded end I3b drags along the base II and the arm 25 is similarly rotated under the influence of gravity until the lower edge thereof engages the stop pin 26a. The spring 23 assists in producing the described pivotal movement until the end thereof connected with the pivot end !3a of the holding element is brought into alignment with the line passing through two studs I? and 24. Slight pivotal movement of the holding element it beyond this position is produced by continuing gravity pull upon the holdin element, such movement serving lightly to tension the spring 23 and continuing until the element l3 engages the stop pin 28. After the holding position of the element I3 is thus established, the swing end of the frame i8 may be pushed from the position shown in Fig. 2 toward the base II to the desired set position relative to this base as shown in Fig, 5 Incident to such reverse pivotal movement of the frame Hi, the arm It is slid between the slide parts it and 20 until the pin 2? engages the upper edge of the part 58. As the end Isa is thus projected upwardly from the line passing through the studs Ii and 2 2-, the spring 23 is further tensioned and hence conditioned to pivot the holding element i3 back toward its non-holding position when the weight of the frame I9 holding the sharp end I30 of the holdin element in engagement with the base II is removed.

When it is desired to close the frame I0 against the printing base II, it is only necessary to raise the frame slightly from its set position relative to the base as shown in Fig. 5. In response to this operation, the holding element I3 is lifted from the base II and thus freed for rotation in a counter clockwise direction about the pivot stud ii under the influence of the tensioned spring 23. The pivotal movement thus imparted to the holdin element i3 is sufficient to move the rounded end 63b to a position wherein it will engage the upper surface of the base I I when the frame is lowered. Accordingly, the frame I0 may be lowered with the rounded end 53?) of the holding element riding alon the surface of the base II. When the frame is lowered to the position shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, the inclined edge 23d thereof is brought 'into engagement with the lower edge 25b of the finger 25a. During continued movement of the frame II) toward its lowered position, the edges I3d and 25a. slide over each other until the finger 25a. engages the shoulder Ite. Thereafter, and during still further movement of the frame toward its closed position, the arm 25 is pivoted in a counter clockwise direction about the pin 26 and forces the holding element :3 to slide along the arm IS away from the pin 2?. This relative sliding movement between the two parts it and iii continues until the frame It is fully closed or lowered to the position shown in Fig. 3 0f the drawings, and serves to tension the spring 23, thereby to condition this spring to effect pivotal movement of the holdin element I3 toward its holding position when the frame is subseqeuntly raised.

From the above explanation it will be apparent that the only operations required in raising and lowering of the rinting frame are such as may be accomplished by one hand manipulation of the swing end of the frame. Further, the mechanism is simple in the extreme and requires the use of no parts which may not be formed by die forming or stamping operations. The only adjustment which may be required in the use of the device is that of adjusting the wing nut 22 to vary the force with which the arm I8 is clamped between the two slide parts I8 and 28 and thus determine the static friction restraining the arm and holding element I3 against relative sliding movement. In this regard it is pointed out that the friction 2A6, misc mustrbez-suificient to prevent-thespring23-irom sliding, the holding element, 13 along thear-m l6 when theshoulder 93a isdisengaged from the finger. a and when theirame i0 is raised from its. elevated position. to effect pivotal movement ofthe holding element toward its non-holding position. :The desired degree of frictional restraint against relative sliding movement between the parts it and i6 may be readily attained by suitably adjusting the wing nut 22 along. the threaded stud 2i.

Although the mechanism has been described with particular reference to its use in conjunction with printing apparatus of the character conventionally used for stencillingoperations, it will be understood that the device is equally applicable to manyother structures where simpleand economical means are required for maintaining one of two hinged members in an elevated position relative to the other member against gravity pull. Further, since the mode of using printing'apparatus of the illustrated type is well understood in the art, no detailed explanationof such .use is deemed necessary herein.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be thepreierred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein which are Within the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A mechanism for releasably holding one member in a set position relative to a second member which is biased toward said one member, comprising a holding element pivotally supported for gravity pull actuation to a holding position in response to relative movement of said members apart, and means responsive to said relative movement followed by partial relative movement of said members toward each other for rotating said holding element to a non-holding position when said members are subsequently moved apart.

2. A mechanism for releasably holding one member in a set position relativeto a second member which is biased toward said one member, comprising a holding element pivotally supported upon said one member for gravity pull actuation to a holding position in response to relative movement of said members apart, and spring means r tensioned by subsequent relative movement of said. members toward each other for rotating said holding element to a, non-holding position in response to subsequent movement of said members apart.

3. A mechanism for releasably holding one member in a, set position relative to a second member which is biased toward said one member, comprising a holding element pivotally supported upon said one'member for gravity pull actuation to a holding position in response to relative movement of said members apart, spring meanstensioned by subsequent relativemovement of said members toward each other" for rotating said holding element toward a non-holding position in response to subsequent movement of said membersapartand means responsive to rotation of said holding element toward the non-holding direction for tensioning said spring, whereby said spring assists in moving said holding element to its holding position in response to subsequent movement of said members apart.

4. A mechanism for releasably holding one member in a set position relative to a second member against gravity pull, comprising a holding element pivotally supported upon said one I member: for movementibetween inoneholdingsarrd ing 'positions, means vfor'translating said element.

relative to said one-member in one directioninresponse to movement of said element iinto its non-holding position said element being translated relative to. said one member inthe-oppositedirection in response to partial closing-movement of said members after said element is pivoted to its holding position, and spring means tensioned in response to each such translatory--:movement for alternately pivoting said element toward its holding and non-holding positionsin=response-t0 alternate opening movements of said members.

6. A mechanism 'forreleasably holding-oneof two hinged members in a :set positionsagainst gravitypull, comprising a holding element,-means supporting said holding element-upon said one member for pivotal and translatory movement relative to saidone member, said elementbeing pivotallymovable between non-holding and holding positions, stop means cooperating with-said element to determine said holding position, means for translating said element relative to said one member in one direction in response to -movement 0iv said element into its non-holding positiomsaid element being translated relative to said onenifllher in the opposite direction inresponse-tdpartial closing movement of said members after-said element is pivoted'toitsholdingposition, *and spring means tensioned in: response to each such translatory movement :ior alternatel vo ng said element toward its holding and non ho'ldin'g positions in response toalternate opening movement of saidmembers.

'7. A mechanism for releasably holding-one-of two hinged members ina set position-against gravity pull, comprisinganarm pivotal ly snpported upon said one member,- a holding elemen-t slidably supported upon said arm and -pivotailly movable with saidarmbetween-hoiding and-nonhoidingpositions, said holding -e-lement: =being slidable relative to saidarmbetween two dii eren't settings, said arm being slid relativetosaid lding element to establish one of: said-two settings in response tomovement of saidone member toward: the other member after saidholdin'gwl'ementismoved to its holding positiomune'ans actuated during closing movement of said one member toward the other member *Ior. slidingsaid holding eiement relative to said arm-ate esta-b lish theother of said twosettingswhen-saidhold ing element is moved into its non-holding position, and spring means tensioned each time relative sliding movement is thus produced between said arm and said holding element for alternately pivoting said element toward its holding and non-' holding positions in response to alternate opening movements of said one member.

8. A device for releasably holding one of two hinged members in a raised position relative to the other member against gravity pull, comprising a support, a holding element, means mounting said holding element uponsaid support for pivotal and translatory movement relative to said support, said holding element being pivotally movable between holding and non-holding positions and being adapted for translatory movement relative to said support each time it is moved to either position, and spring means connected between said holding element and said support and so controlled by the translatory movement of said holding element as to assist in pivoting said holding element toward each of said two positions.

9. A device for releasably holding one of two hinged members in a raised position relative to the other member against gravity pull, comprising a support, an arm pivotally mounted upon said support, a holding element slidably carried by said arm and pivotally movable with said arm between holding and non-holding positions, a spring connected between said holding element and said support, said arm and holding element being adapted for relative sliding movement in one direction to tension said spring each time said holding element is moved to its holding position, thereby to condition said spring to pivot said holding element toward its non-holding position, and means for producing relative sliding movement between said arm and said holding element in the opposite direction each time said holding element is moved into its non-holding position, thereby to condition said spring to pivot said holding element toward its non-holding position.

10. A device for releasably holding one of two hinged members in a raised position relative to i he other member against gravity pull, comprising a support, an arm pivotally mounted upon said support, a holding element slida-bly carried by said arm and pivot-ally movable with said arm between holding and non-holding positions, a spring connected between said holding element and said support, said arm and holding element being adapted for relative sliding movement in one direction to tension said spring each time said holding element is moved to its holding position, thereby to condition said spring to pivot said holdlng element toward its non-holding position, and a second arm pivotally mounted upon said support and engageable with said holding element to produce relative sliding movement between said first-named arm and said holdin element in the opposite direction each time said holding element is moved into its non-holding position, thereby to condition said spring to pivot said holding element toward its non-holding position.

11. A device for releasably holding one of two hinged members in a raised position relative to the other member against gravity pull, comprising a support, an arm pivotally mounted upon said support, a holding element slidably carried by said arm and pivotally movable with said arm between holding and non-holding positions, a spring connected between said holding element and said support, said arm and holding element being adapted for relative sliding movement in one direction to tension said spring each time said holding element is moved to its'holding position, thereby to condition said spring to pivot said holding element toward its non-holding position, a second arm pivotally mounted upon said support and engageable with said holding element to produce relative sliding movement be tween said first-named arm and said holding element in the opposite direction each time said holding element is moved into its non-holding position, thereby to condition said spring to pivot said holding element toward its non-holding position, and adjustable friction means for preventing free relative sliding movement between said holding element and said first-named arm, thereby to prevent said spring from producing relative sliding movement therebetween.

12. In an apparatus having a stationary base and a movable member hinged thereto for angular movement on a horizontal axis, means rc sponsive to the movements of said movable member for alternatively causing said member to be held in an elevated position or enabling said member to drop into a lower position, said means comprising an arm pivotally mounted on said movable member, a holding element disposed adjacent to and parallel with said arm, a slip-friction device connecting said element to said arm for relative translatory movement, said element being adapted when in an approximately vertical position to engage said base for holding said movable member and being incapable of holding member when pivoted away from such vertieal position, and a spring extended between points located on said movable member and on said holding element such that the force of said spring is shifted alternatively to one side or the other of the pivot for said arm as said element is shifted in either direction relative to said arm, whereby said spring is effective to pivot said element alternatively in opposite directions between the holding and non-holding positions thereof.

13. In combination with the means recited in claim 12, a second arm pivotally mounted on said movable member and engageable with said holding element for shifting said element in one direction when said movable member is collapsed against said base, said element being shifted in the other direction by forcibly depressing said movable member a limited distance when said element is in its holding position.

WESLEY PET'IY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 706,228 Fleming Aug. 5, 1902 1,5895% Stillians Apr. 13, 1926 1,842,274 Landwehr et a1. Jan. 19, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS dumber Country Date 442,551 Great Britain Feb. 11, 1936 625,360 Germany Feb. 7, 1936 

